Last night, General Motors unveiled the new 2024 Blazer EV, the company’s first entry into the lucrative mid-size electric crossover sector dominated by Tesla’s Model Y, the Ford Mustang Mach E, and the Hyundai IONIQ 5, among dozens of other gas-powered versions.
Last night, General Motors unveiled the new 2024 Blazer EV, the company’s first entry into the lucrative mid-size electric crossover sector dominated by Tesla’s Model Y, Mustang Mach E, and Hyundai IONIQ 5, among dozens of other gas-powered versions.
The 2017 Chevy Blazer EV may be a good option for EV consumers searching for an alternative to a gas-powered SUV. The electric Blazer is an entirely different car having no chassis in common with the gas-powered variant.
The Blazer EV’s introduction is important for GM since it not only marks the start of the automaker’s journey to electrification, but it is also the first mainstream crossover based on GM’s new Utium EV platform. Following the Blazer EV in September will come the Equinox EV, which will cost roughly $30,000. The full-size GMC Hummer EV and the Chevy Silverado electric truck are the others.
The Bolt EV and Bolt EUV from General Motors are based on the automaker’s earlier Battery Electric Vehicle II (BEV2) EV platform.
“With choices and straightforward technology that help position Chevy for leadership in one of the fastest-growing EV sectors,” said Scott Bell, vice president of Chevrolet. “With the introduction of the all-new Silverado EV and Equinox EV next year, we are making excellent efforts in providing more options for zero-emissions cars – options that make moving to an EV simpler than ever.”
The Ultium EV powertrain family consists of five distinct modules and three electric motors that may be configured for rear wheel, front wheel, and all-wheel-drive battery-powered versions. GM refers to the five powertrains and three electric motors as “Ultium Drive.”
GM’s Ultium EV platform will be a critical component of the company’s electric future. Because of its extremely adaptable architecture, GM can produce more cheap EVs across all segments and engine options. The Ultium powertrains standardize the majority of the electronics and components, including the electric skateboard platform.
The Ultium family features two powertrains developed for GM’s future electric pickup trucks and SUVs, featuring a front or rear wheel drive powerplant and an all-wheel-drive twin motor version.
Although many of GM’s future EVs may appear different on the exterior, they will all use one of these five Ultium powertrains, allowing GM to simplify and scale manufacturing for greater cost efficiency.
The Blazer EV, which is based on GM’s adaptable Ultium EV architecture, will be available with front-, rear-, or all-wheel drive engine configurations. In addition, GM will provide a more powerful performance SS variant, as well as a Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV) model for law enforcement fleets.
“The Ultium Platform’s versatility allowed our design and engineering teams to construct the Blazer EV to provide an unmatched variety of performance and driving characteristics,” stated Martin Hayes, Chief Engineer for the Blazer EV.
The driving range of the Blazer EV will be up to 320 miles depending on the trim. According to GM, all models of the Blazer EV support 11.5 kW level 2 (AC) charging and standard DC public fast-charging capacity of up to 190 kW, which can add around 78 miles of range in 10 minutes.
The entry-level 1LT, which comes in front-wheel drive and has a driving range of 247 miles, joins the PPV and SS models. The 2LT comes standard with FWD, but will also be available with AWD and a greater range of 293 miles.
The Blazer EV RS has the longest ranger variant, with an estimated range of 320 miles. It also includes basic FWD, but depending on the size of the battery pack, consumers may choose between RWD and AWD.
The Blazer EV SS with a range of 293 miles will be the most powerful Blazer in the new electric lineup. It has an AWD system that produces up to 557 horsepower and 648 lb-ft of torque. The SS will also include a WOW (“Wide Open Watts”) mode that allows for a rapid sprint from 0 to 60 mph in under four seconds.
The Blazer EV also has One-Pedal Driving, which can bring the vehicle to a complete stop when the accelerator pedal is depressed.
The SS version of the Blazer EV will be on sale in 2023 for roughly $65,995, making it a significant contender to Tesla’s Model Y Performance, which starts at $69,990 in the United States and has a range of 303 miles.
The Blazer SS is the most aggressive model in the series, with a distinctive front grille, two-tone paint scheme with a black roof and A-pillars. It will be equipped with standard 22-inch wheels.
“The Blazer EV SS has the essence of a real sports vehicle,” Bell said. “And, although it is the peak of performance for Chevy’s EV portfolio, all versions provide exciting capabilities that will surprise and please genuine performance enthusiasts.”
The Blazer EV incorporates GM’s most advanced EV technology, making the transition to an electric car easier. According to GM, all of the Blazer EV’s charging, infotainment, and driver-assistance technology operate together holistically.
The Blazer EV’s interior has a 17.7-inch-diagonal color touchscreen that acts as the command center for the vehicle’s infotainment system and other functions. The center touchscreen is supplemented by a second 11-inch-diagonal color Driver Information Center in the instrument cluster.
There is no button to press to start the car with hands-free start. After shutting the door, the driver merely presses the brake pedal, and the Blazer EV is ready to go. The hands-free start feature is enabled via the key fob.
“With the Blazer EV, the transition to an electric vehicle is straightforward,” Hayes added. “Every aspect and function has been developed to assist consumers in taking complete control of their driving experience and enjoying every minute of it.”
Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Alert, Front Pedestrian Braking, Following Distance Indicator, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, and IntelliBeam are all standard safety features on the Blazer EV.
In addition, the Blazer EV is based on GM’s innovative Ultifi end-to-end vehicle software platform, which permits over-the-air software upgrades. The Ultifi platform decouples the vehicle’s software from its hardware, allowing for the frequent and seamless delivery of software-defined features, apps, and services to customers via the cloud.
Ultifi enables GM customers to continue upgrading and personalizing their car as enhancements and new vehicle features become available. Customers of General Motors will be able to subscribe to or unlock new car amenities such as valet parking.
These services may be provided as a monthly subscription or as a one-time purchase. Another potential use for the Ultifi software platform is unlocking options to improve vehicle performance, such as boosting available battery capacity.
According to GM, Ultifi will give new business prospects for the manufacturer via add-on services. GM’s Super Cruise autonomous highway driving capability, for example, will be offered as an optional monthly subscription for $25 per month on the Blazer EV.
The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV 2LT and RS will be available in summer 2023, with prices beginning at roughly $47,595 and $51,995, respectively.
The entry-level 1LT and PPV models will be available in the first quarter of 2024. According to GM, the 1LT will cost roughly $44,995.
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